Iran has admitted targeting the Islamic State of
Iraq and the Levant (ISIL ) on Iraqi soil , saying it is
defending its friends ' interests .
Ebrahim Rahimpour, Iran 's deputy foreign minister,
told Britain ' s Guardian newspaper in an interview
that the air strikes were not co -ordinated with the
US, whose military is also fighting the group,
which controls large parts of Iraq and Syria .
He said the attacks were carried out at the Iraqi
government' s request .
This was the first confirmation of the attacks by
Iran. The government had previously denied that
its military launched any air strikes.
The timing and nature of the military operations
are not clear, but they are said to have occurred in
Diyala province, which extends from northeast
Baghdad to the Iranian border .
John Kerry , US secretary of state , has rejected the
possibility of any co -ordination with Iran in anti -
ISIL operations .
Would Iran' s involvement make any difference in
the fight against ISIL ?
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